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Neighbour's Maine Coon cats attacking my small cats

12 replies

Lovinglifeand · 12/10/2022 19:52

I have three small cats from a nearby rescue centre that have taken a few months to get used to the family and eventually our garden. They were extremely nervous to start with but now trust us. However, a neighbour a few hundred yards away keeps 3 very large Maine Coon cats. We are very rural so she feels it is safe to let them out as they please. They attack our cats constantly to the point that they are now scared to go out the cat-flap. Today, there was a fight in the garden from the large ginger Maine Coon who has left my cat Pixie bleeding. The owner has been approached by another cat owner about the fighting but replied that her cats have a right to come and go. Her cats are more than double the size of mine, hardly a fair fight. Has anyone else had a problem like this or have any idea how to resolve it?

OP posts:
MissConductUS · 12/10/2022 19:57

Either put up a fence to keep them out or turn a garden hose on them when they appear.

confused162 · 12/10/2022 19:59

Ive never had this issue, but that must be so stressful for you. Its good that you are not the only person who has had this issue as this may mean she will take it more seriously?

Is there something you can do to dissuade the Maine coons from coming into your garden, spray water?

confused162 · 12/10/2022 20:00

As a Temporary measure you could get stakes and strong plastic netting and have a makeshift cattery area so at least your cats can go out whilst you are there.

Vapeyvapevape · 12/10/2022 20:01

I'd make a big outside run for your cats . It doesn't sound as if Mrs Maine Coon is going to keep hers in .

Walkingtheplank · 12/10/2022 20:22

We have a local Maine Coon.

Our cat can hold her own, except against the local Maine Coon. Vicious thing. I dont see what can be done but I do resent the vets bills.

MsFogi · 12/10/2022 20:26

Well if the neighbour won't do anything about it maybe tell her that if her horrible cats come into your garden they may go missing whilst exercising their right to come and go.......

broadsurf · 13/10/2022 12:26

The problem that you are encountering it is really to do with humans trying to manage and control feline society which is very difficult. Legally, domestic cats can trespass on a neighbour's property as trespass doesn't apply to cats. There are some things that can be done though.

One method depends upon how often you are in your home. If you are retired and in your home most of the day you will have a chance to meet this invading cat or cats from your neighbour hundreds of yards away.

And if you can be in your backyard or garden when a large Maine Coon or large Maine Coons arrive to attack your small rescue cats, you can shoo them away.

Don't forget that humans are much larger than even Maine Coon cats and you can frighten Maine Coon cats or any other domestic cat for that matter.

A human is a very big animal compared to a Maine Coon cat and if you make a noise and wave your arms around and look threatening but don't harm the Maine Coon cat they should back off and disappear.

Ultimately, they will find coming into your garden or enclosure an uncomfortable experience and avoid it.

If you are not around to do this, you might ask a friend who is around to do it for you, but the Maine Coons must not be harmed. There should be no physical contact. It is all about sumo-style standoff displays to tell the cats that you are bigger and stronger.

An alternative would be to create a backyard or back garden enclosure which keeps your cats in, and which also keeps other cats out.

But that is an expensive method and depending upon the garden size might well cost thousands of pounds. It would provide peace of mind, however.

You can't use cat deterrents in the garden such as automatic water sprayers and any number of alternatives which are mentioned a lot on the Internet, such as ultrasound deterrents, because you will be deterring your own cats from using the same space. They are only moderately effective anyway.

I think the best method is for the human caregiver of the small rescue cats (you) to act in a hostile way towards the Maine Coons to make it clear to them that they are unwanted.

Cats learn from that, and they won't like an aggressive alien creature looking threatening at them.

But don't get too close and don't aggravate the cat to the point where they are provoked to attack you. Normally aggressive sounds and an aggressive posture by the human is enough to deter an invading or alien cat even if they are Maine Coons.

Maine Coons are normally quite retiring anyway and are not normally known to be aggressive but it will vary from individual to individual.

Good luck.

broadsurf · 13/10/2022 12:27

You can also throw something soft at the invading cats such as a soft slipper. That makes a statement.

ThisShipIsSinking · 13/10/2022 12:34

Maine coon cats are usually quite easy going, l have a maine coon cross, he is huge, and three small ferrells, and the ferrells intimidate him. This seems to be maybe more of a territorial problem, the bigger cats are not used to sharing their space, get some water guns and try and chase them away, the maine coons will soon get the message.

Discovereads · 13/10/2022 12:36

Maine coons are half-feral anyway. They need larger territory than one back garden for three of them. Id contact the RSPCA and see if they have any advice. Otherwise you may have to enclose your garden so the Maine coon cats cannot get into it.

Discovereads · 13/10/2022 12:37

Female Maine coon cats are typically aggressive and territorial. The males are usually big softies.

HaGGerTON190 · 30/11/2024 11:39

Lovinglifeand · 12/10/2022 19:52

I have three small cats from a nearby rescue centre that have taken a few months to get used to the family and eventually our garden. They were extremely nervous to start with but now trust us. However, a neighbour a few hundred yards away keeps 3 very large Maine Coon cats. We are very rural so she feels it is safe to let them out as they please. They attack our cats constantly to the point that they are now scared to go out the cat-flap. Today, there was a fight in the garden from the large ginger Maine Coon who has left my cat Pixie bleeding. The owner has been approached by another cat owner about the fighting but replied that her cats have a right to come and go. Her cats are more than double the size of mine, hardly a fair fight. Has anyone else had a problem like this or have any idea how to resolve it?

I wondered if you got the issue sorted out. I have a mixed Maine Coon and while he is very affectionate to me, he hates cats. He has beaten up a fox. He fought with a much smaller cat that was left with wounds and had lost a bad tooth. I felt so bad I offered to pay for their cat's treatment. I have tried keeping my cat indoors but it is a nightmare.

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